Across Black America for April 18, 2013

4/17/2013, 5 p.m.

Here's a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

CaliforniaOld-school, Hip Hop radio station KDAY will be sold for $19.5 million to a media company with ties to China, according to Federal Communications Commission documents. The sale will be finalized after the close of escrow, according to the sales agreement that is on file with the FCC. KDAY-FM (93.5) is based out of Redondo Beach. KDEY-FM, which simulcast KDAY programming out of Ontario, is included in the sale. The stations are owned by Magic Broadcasting based in Florida. According to radio industry reports, the new owners plan to change the format of the two old school Hip Hop stations to Mandarin-language talk radio.

The Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF) is now accepting submissions for the 2013 festival, to be held Oct. 2-6, 2013. Regular feature, short, student and documentary film submissions, Project Stargazer submissions, and scripts for the Storyteller Competition will be accepted through June 16. The late deadline is July 8. All films submitted must have been completed after Sept. 1, 2012. HBFF will introduce a new competitive sidebar this year, Film Diaspora, to showcase independent films and filmmakers from the African Diaspora. Feature, short and documentary films submitted to compete in Film Diaspora must have been produced by filmmakers residing outside the U.S.--in Africa, the Caribbean, Central or Latin America.

ColoradoThe Mountain Region Black Economic Summit has announced the eighth annual MRBES Success Summit & Expo to be held on May 31 and June 1 at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center. The theme is "Inform, Inspire, Imagine!" The summit, which seeks to improve the economic standing of minority communities, is the only event of its kind in the mountain states. More than 750 people are expected to attend. The luncheon keynote speaker is Julianne Malveaux, Ph.D., an economist, author and founder of Last Word Productions Inc. The emcee is Denver Nuggets' public address announcer, Kyle Speller.

District of ColumbiaThe Arab American Institute Foundation honored Marian Wright Edelman and the Children's Defense Fund with the Award for Institutional Excellence at the 15th annual Kahlil Gibran "Sprit of Humanity" Awards Gala. For 14 years, the Gibran awards have recognized individuals, organizations, and corporations whose work reflects the ideals of the great Lebanese-American poet by promoting inclusion, cooperation and greater understanding among people of diverse backgrounds. "For 40 years, the Children's Defense Fund has been the nation's strongest advocate for at-risk children and families," said Arab American Institute President James Zogby. "Its tireless work has resulted in significant policy changes and programs for children, bringing about better access to healthcare, education, and proper nutrition. We couldn't be more pleased to honor their vital and important work at Gibran."

The Liberty Counsel Action sent a letter to every member of the U.S. House of Representatives urging support for Rep. Doug Lamborn's (R-Colo.) letter to John M. McHugh, secretary of the Army, calling on him to rescind, apologize, and investigate an Army Reserve training brief that labels Evangelical Christians and Catholics as religious extremists. "Make no mistake about it, religious freedom is under attack in this country," said Mat Staver, chairman of Liberty Counsel Action. "The news of an Army Reserve training brief labeling Evangelical Christians and Catholics as 'religious extremists,' is insulting. To lump Evangelical Christians and Catholics in with Hamas, Al Qaeda, or the Ku Klux Klan is outrageous. Such false labeling is dangerous and unacceptable," Staver said. Liberty Counsel Action is a 501(c)(4), nonprofit, grassroots lobbying organization advancing religious and civil liberties, the sanctity of human life, the family, limited and responsible government, national security and support for Israel.